{"product_id":"virtual-humans-9781138558014","title":"Virtual Humans","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eVirtual Humans\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e provides a much-needed definition of what constitutes a virtual human' and places virtual humans within the wider context of Artificial Intelligence development. It explores the technical approaches to creating a virtual human, as well as emergent issues such as embodiment, identity, agency and digital immortality, and the resulting ethical challenges. The book presents an overview of current research and practice in this area, and outlines the major challenges faced by today's developers and researchers. The book examines the possibility for using virtual humans in a variety of roles, from personal assistants to teaching, coaching and knowledge management, and the book situates these discussions around familiar applications (e.g. Siri, Cortana, Alexa) and the portrayal of virtual humans within Science Fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeatures\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePresents a comprehensive overview of this rapidly developing field \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides an\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"This book presents an overview of the present state of play with virtual humans. Appearance, attributes, communication and intelligence are all investigated, and the architectures involved are covered in detail. If you have little knowledge of what a virtual human is, but want to find out, then this is the book for you. For researchers in the virtual human field this is a definite must.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e-Professor Kevin Warwick, Coventry University\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003eDavid Burden and Maggi Savin-Baden’s\u003ci\u003e Virtual Humans \u003c\/i\u003eoffers a thorough, research-based treatment of how digital entities with human-like features and capabilities have left the domain of science fiction and are rapidly becoming a major aspect of human culture. In their clearly-written and well-organized work, they describe the current forms and abilities of virtual humans (including smart speakers and virtual assistant systems like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana and various types of Internet-based chatbots); examine how the creation of virtual bodies, senses, and minds can be combined to create virtual humans; and consider potential developments in the nature and functionality of virtual agents across a range of timeframes from the end of the next decade to the end of the century. Significantly, the authors recognize and discuss the great ethical, moral and social implications of these technological developments which makes their work relevant and important for the social sciences and humanities as well as the domains of computing and information sciences. I certainly intend to use \u003ci\u003eVirtual Humans\u003c\/i\u003e as an assigned reading in the interdisciplinary courses I teach on the personal and social impact of leading-edge digital technologies.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e-Richard Gilbert, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Psychology and New Technology Research Lab, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"\u003c\/em\u003eIntelligent, pragmatic and insightful, \u003cem\u003eVirtual Humans\u003c\/em\u003e is an essential guide for those who want to understand the complex landscape of today’s technology when thinking about designing and building a virtual human. Helpfully, it clearly deploys a wealth of supporting analysis, case studies, research, ethical questions, and moral dilemmas and adds a refreshing dose of healthy common sense along the way.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e-Nicola Strong, Strong Enterprises\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart I The Landscape \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 1 What are Virtual Humans?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 2 Virtual Humans and Artificial Intelligence \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart II Technology \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 3 Body and Senses\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 4 Mind \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 5 Communication\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 6 Architecture \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 7 Embodiment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 8 Assembling and Assemblages\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart III Identity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 9 Digital Ethics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 10 Identity and Agency\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 11 Virtual Humans for Education\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 12 Digital Immortality \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 13 Futures and Possibilities \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlossary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52084562690391,"sku":"9781138558014","price":59.84,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781138558014.jpg?v=1762206810","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/virtual-humans-9781138558014","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}